The Wonder of it all

As an IT professional, I frequently utilize the internet for work purposes. When I encountered advertisements for Wonder, I felt compelled to investigate further. Consequently, I made the first-ever in-person purchase from their establishment. My intention was to gain a comprehensive understanding of their operations.

I visited the location situated at 825 New York Ave in Huntington. Interestingly, there is also a nearby establishment in Melville that I was previously unaware of. While I am uncertain if there were any discernible differences between the two, I am hopeful that there may be. Upon entering the establishment, I was met with a solitary individual seated on a stool, awaiting an order that required delivery. In fact, during my wait for my order to be prepared, the only individuals who entered the premises were delivery personnel.

Upon my arrival, I observed several tables and bar-style stools positioned near the windows. Additionally, there are two kiosk stations located directly in front of the entrance, which are easily visible upon entering. The remainder of the building is dedicated to the assembly cooking process. They employ a “hub-and-spoke” model, wherein components are pre-cooked or prepared at a central commissary kitchen. Meals are primarily prepared at a central facility to ensure consistency across various brands (e.g., Bobby Flay, Jose Andres). While the establishment is primarily designed for delivery, many locations in New York City offer limited, on-site, in-person ordering and dining options. As previously mentioned, the location I visited was unable to accommodate the lunch rush at a McDonald’s.

Saving With C.O. Bigelow

Last week, we had a nor'easter, and things got covered in snow all over N.Y. The LIRR stopped all trains to the city, which made my boss not a happy camper. I was able to come in on Tuesday, but the regular train schedule was all crazy. This made an hour-10-minute trip take 2 hours.

So today I used C.O. Bigelow just because I know I can get this shave on and over with in a few mins because I'm exhausted. I wet the face and then placed a little in my hand and massaged it into the beard. This made a fantastic lather. This allowed me to have an irritation-free shave with no worries of nicks or cuts of any kind.

The post-shave feel was a good one, and the Quite Man after-shave just sealed the deal.

Alien Shave The Barber - Wet The Face Review

Today we have something new from Alien Shave: it's called "The Barber." A cherry-scented Talow-based shaving soap. The base is called Genuine Formula 51t - Grass Fed Beef Tallow, Stearic Acid, Distilled Water, Shea Butter, Horsetail Butter, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Coconut Acid, Fragrance, Sodium Hydroxide. They also have a 51G, which is Drenched in Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, and Goat Milk, and a 51ct Soft Cream Top Shaving Soap.

This comes in a very wide tub, which you can use for loading your brush with or, like me, lather it in a bowl. All soaps are different, and this soap makes an amazing velvet lather, not a crazy fluffy lather, but one that is drenched in creamy goodness. This is evident once you start applying it to your face. It's a great experience.

Once I started the shave, you could tell how the soap, with its slickness and glide, was protecting my face, allowing my razor to go over trouble spots without the fear of irritation. The best part was the post-shave feel, which was extremely nice.

All in all, I had a wonderful shave with The Barber, and if you give it a try, I know you will too.

Shaving With White Lotus

Today I'm using White Lotus. It was my take on White Tea, one that came out so good, I decided to make a bar soap. To this day, only one person has it. It was sent out with no label. The reason for this is that the printer I am waiting for never arrived as promised. As soon as it does, the labels will be printed and then available to the public on the website.

White Lotus Shaving Soap is a fragrance inspired by elegance and tranquility. While its name nods to the popular TV series, that’s where the similarity ends — because this is an experience all its own.

From the very first lather, you’re welcomed by the refreshing calm of aloe vera and the bright, invigorating spark of crisp ginger. As the scent unfolds, the heart reveals a serene harmony of delicate white tea, transporting you to a place where time slows, and the noise of the world fades away.

The journey deepens with creamy cedarwood and warm vanilla, wrapping around you like a soft embrace. Beneath it all lies the gentle floral elegance of lily, a soothing base that lingers long after your shave is done.

This isn’t just a fragrance — it’s a ritual of grounding and peace. White Lotus must be experienced to be truly understood.

Please check out the movies I've been watching: The Midnight Sky, Queen of Chess, Archive

Shaving with Ingram

I have a few favorite shaving creams, and one of them I'm using today is called Ingram. Back in 2017, I was given a box containing shaving products from my friend in the UK. This is another staple of the UK; the other shaving cream is Palmolive. I’ve seen it advertised on websites there for as low as $2.00. If you look for this now, you'll find prices wildly vary up to 40 dollars and beyond. Looks are deceiving with Ingram packaging because this understated-looking shaving cream is one of the best I’ve used.

I placed a fair amount in my brush, soaked the brush under water, and wet my face. Within seconds, I created an amazing amount, which provided great coverage and got right into the beard. The slickness and glide from the lather allowed me to have an irritation-free shave. The post-shave feel was one you need to experience due to its menthol content, just the right amount.

I highly recommend this Ingram if you have not tried it before or are seeking a novel product to explore. If you have a menthol preference, as I do, you will not be disappointed.

I'm sorry I forgot to include the graphic of the Netflix show I'm watching called ABSENTIA

Shaving With Elvado

The first time I used this soap was in 2017, the second was in 2022, and now, in 2026, I'm using it once more. 3 times in 9 years, not a glowing recommendation, but with so many soaps and hardware items to review, this is what happens. This is in no way a reflection on Elvado's performance.

Elvado Grooming, an Ontario, Canada-based artisan, returned to business around mid-2023 after closing in 2019. The brand relaunched with a new website, www.elvadogrooming.com, featuring new label designs and, as of early 2024, new scents like "Amalfi Breeze" and the return of "Woodland Reserve". They continue to produce plant-based, botanical-rich shaving creams and soaps.

When you least expect it something goes wrong

When making YouTube videos, things happen, and during this SOTD, they happened to me. Here I am showing the Deep shaving gel I was going to use, and the can malfunctions. I have never had a can of shaving cream ever in my years of shaving, malfunction like the one that did on that day.

I had to quickly reset and pick something else to use. Luckily, I had a few to choose from, and the one I selected was the Dandy Gent Shaving Cream. This is a lime Shaving Cream that is handmade in the UK, noted for its slickness, allowing your razor to glide smoothly over your face, for an irritation-free shaving experience.

I didn't want to bowl lather, so I took my brush and touched it to the shaving cream in the jar. I did this a few times, making sure I had a good amount on the brush before starting to face-lather. This created an amazing amount of lather with the great scent of lime, which held up during the entire shave.